Jessica Motaung Remembers the Ellis Park Disaster Of 2001!

Jessica Motaung Remembers the Ellis Park Disaster Of 2001! Today commemorates 21 years since the tragedy.

The Ellis Park disaster of 2001 saw 43 people pass away after a catastrophic stampede. Kaizer Chiefs Marketing and Commercial Director remembered the fallen individuals.

On 11 April 2001, at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, Orlando Pirates hosted Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby. This match would go down in history for all the wrong reasons.

Due to fake tickets being sold, there were more spectators than seats at the Ellis Park Stadium. Thus, a stampede followed, which saw 43 people lose their lives and a host of others injured.

All derby matches were moved to the much larger FNB Stadium since then.

“It is truly a day that remains in our hearts,” she told the Kaizer Chiefs media.

“While we reflect on the day, we continue to convey our condolences to the families of those who perished in the disaster.

“We have tried to honour their legacy – and those from the 1991 Orkney tragedy – by heeding the bitter lessons we learned in our quest to avoid the recurrence of anything of that nature.” She spoke.

Now that fans are back at stadia across the country, safety will have to be prioritised once again. Especially in the fiery Soweto Derby.

“It was heart-warming to see some fans on the eve of the 21^st commemoration of the Ellis Park disaster back on the stands after such a long period. The journey has not only been tough, but it gave us an opportunity to learn and appreciate the role played by supporters.

“The game really struggled without the fans and their absence showed how important they are to football, and sport in general. It is therefore incumbent on us to ensure that they are safe when they attend matches.

“We also call upon supporters to adhere to all the security protocols to avoid any unwanted events that may occur due to non-compliance with the security regulations,” she confirmed.

Kaizer Chiefs play SuperSport United this weekend. Jessica Motaung Remembers the Ellis Park Disaster Of 2001!